Jamaica will be eliminating more positions from the public sector before the end of this year. This has been revealed by the country’s Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips as part of measures to reduce the public sector wage bill.

While unable to state how many additional posts would be involved, Phillips said the process would be done without impairing the functions of the public bodies. The positions that will be eliminated are those that are not currently filled.

“We have a number working with, but I don’t want to share that number at this point because it is subject to refinement. What we are trying to do is to look at posts that are not now filled, and those that can be dispensed of without impairing the functioning of the bodies,” he stated.

Phillips said the removal of the positions would contribute to an overall reduction in the expenses because these positions are all funded posts.

Dr. Phillips also indicated that the public sector unions will have to limit their expectations as they prepare to negotiate a new wage and fringe benefits package for the 2012-2014-contract period, however, he did not say if the government would be insisting on a wage freeze for this period.

Earlier this year several unions decided earlier to forego an increase for the 2010-2012 period but they were adamant that the situation will have to be different for the next contract period. – (CMC)